Chapter 271: The Case Of The Historical Relics (2/2)
”Abbot, since things have already come to this,” Scarface loudly interjected, “What's the point of...”
”Jingneng, that’s enough!” he yelled. Then, turning to me, he explained, ”This matter concerns the reputation of our temple so it’s best if we keep it under wraps for the time being. I promise to find out what happened and give your friend justice. Please stay in your rooms till I return.”
”Fine! I’ll trust you this once,” I agreed.
The abbot exchanged a meaningful glance with Scarface who quickly led us into the meditation room. The two continued their private conversation, after which the abbot hurried out the door.
I was certain he was going after the two accomplices who had vanished while Scarface stayed behind to monitor us. He stood under a large tree in the courtyard, chain smoking cigarette after cigarette.
”Dude, this place scares the shit out of me!” Dali burst out in hysterics. “They’re definitely going to kill us next.”
”Don't worry,” I chuckled. “Just listen to what I have to say!”
I narrated all that had transpired last night in detail which drew incredulous and awestruck looks from Bingxin and Dali.
”Song Yang-gege, you fabricated Zhu Xiaohao’s murder?” asked Bingxin in disbelief.
”Yes,” I nodded. “Did I manage to trick you as well? Don’t forget to testify my innocence when we get back.”
Bingxin bit her lip and asked, ”If your mysterious bodyguard was here, why didn’t you arrest them all?”
”Do you know anything about the 116 case?”
Bingxin shook her head and I continued, ”It involves the biggest cultural relic heist in the province in the last 50 years!”
Because of its memorable date, the case left a vague impression on me despite having occurred outside of Nanjiang City. I recall having noticed the case files in the archives of the provincial arrest warrants.
The case had occurred 10 years ago when several robbers armed with five or six submachine guns drove into a museum and killed more than a dozen security guards, robbing several national treasures worth over 300 million that included the Nanyang King’s bronze vessel, the antlered crane censer and the most well-preserved jade burial garment from the Han Dynasty. At present, the whereabouts of these relics still remained unknown.
Due to the unique nature of these items, it was impossible for the robbers to have sold them domestically. Therefore, the police assumed they had been lost to overseas buyers.
Later on, when the police were investigating another case, the chief culprit, Mr. Jia, was coincidentally arrested. I suspected this Mr. Jia was the old man whom the two had mentioned last night. In spite of his arrest, Mr. Jia remained tight-lipped, refusing to reveal any information right up to the moment he was executed. From the conversation I had overheard between the two men, I presumed that the execution happened three years ago. Before his death, Mr. Jia told his associates where the historical relics were buried and gave them a password. Unfortunately, this gang of robbers consisted of half-witted knuckleheads who failed to find the treasure even after three years of digging. They impersonated the monks who once lived here and killed any uninvited visitors who entered the temple by mistake.
Needless to say, the lives of these wanted criminals were worth less than these cultural relics. Recovering the relics would be a great achievement that justified the risks!
”Even if we arrest them, they won't necessarily confess so I was thinking of setting up a little game to loosen their lips,” I explained.
”And how are you going to do that?” asked Dali.
I looked out of the window and said, ”Have you noticed that Two-Face hasn’t appeared at all?”
“You’re right!” Dali echoed in surprise.
His absence only served to convince me that he wasn’t part of their gang at all. Thus, I had to create an opportunity to speak to Two-Face. If he knew what the password was, then the plan was to buy us enough time till the police arrived. In the event Two-Face was a monk held hostage by these criminals, our only way forward was to trick the password out of the others. Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to
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